Kenya prioritising security ahead of 2027 AFCON

The government through the Local Organising Committee of the Pamoja 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is prioritising security ahead of the tournament that is coming to the region for the first time.

The Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi Wednesday presided over the opening of a two-day CAF, LOC Security Workshop that brought together top security leaders in the country, the Football Kenya Federation and the Ministry of Sports at the Kasarani Stadium.

The workshop, which is organised by the United Nations’ office on Counter Terrorism in Sports comes as Kenya steps up preparations for the biannual continental football showpiece which is just 13 months away.

Confederation of African Football’s Head of Safety and Security Dr. Christian Emeruwa is among the top officials attending the workshop.

“The discussion is to look at what we need to do so that we can so that we can have safe, secure and a memorable AFCON 2027.The team is prepared to review on the successes that we registered during CHAN 2025 and the challenges.

“Having known our people: the matters to do with crowd management, the participants, the officials is what forms the subject of our discussion here for the two days. We are grateful to His Excellency the President of Kenya for his support in ensuring that together with the Pamoja team that we are set and ready to host AFCON next year,” said PS Mwangi.

Kenya wants to make amends on the unfortunate and unforeseen security gaps that were witnessed during last year’s African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Now, the government and the LOC have set security as one of the critical matters for the proper delivery of a successful AFCON.

Key deliberations at the Kasarani workshop include crowd management, traffic martialing, cross-border movements, airport and port of entry and exit, match and training venue security as well as security for the VIP guests among others.

Kenya Police Service including the Directorate of Criminal Investingation (DCI), the Kenya Defense Forces, the National Anti-Terrorism Centre and the National Disaster Oparations Centre are among the attendees.

The PS, who was flanked by the Secretary Administrative at the State Department of Sports Evans Achoki, Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed and Kenya’s LOC chairperson Nicholas Musonye took the opportunity to update the nation of the construction and renovation of venues earmarked for the next year’s tourney.

“On issues to do with infrastructure, we are progressing well with the construction of the Raila Odinga International Stadium.At the moment, we are passed 88% in towards the completion of the project.

“By the end of June, we are expected supposed to be ready with the stadium itself but recognizing that we have other auxiliary services that need to be done and which are ongoing including the railway and road network, the training ground within Talanta Sports Complex among other areas which have identified by our technical officers.”